Jeep News & Rumors
*Electric vehicles are definitely on the radar at Chrysler. Three proposals landed on the desk of the Department of Energy-a $448 million plan to bring EVs and plug-in hybrid-electrics to the market, and fast. The programs would be a 50/50 cost-share, meaning $224 mil from Chrysler and its partners and ditto that amount from the DOE. They're openly discussing minivans and Dodge Ram 1500s. We're hoping they are secretly discussing Wrangler. This might mean the ENVI division isn't on life support.
*Remember the Jeep Wrangler Ultimate concept from 2007? Maybe the "experimental Liquid Charcoal Pearlcoat paint" rings a bell? The Mopar folks were pushing that more heartily than the 6.4L 392 Hemi under the hood. Turns out that crate engine might just end up in the Dodge Ram. Not sure about the experimental pigment.
*Chrysler will be shutting down about 25 percent of its dealerships (close to 800, if you're looking for a real number).
*The new guy to send your fan (or hate) mail to? Michael Manley, who has been appointed president and CEO of the Jeep brand. He has full profit and loss responsibility for the Jeep product portfolio. We have profit and loss responsibility for ourselves and that's enough trouble.
*Insure.com has ranked the Wrangler as one of the 20 least expensive vehicles to insure in 2009. It came in at number 14 at $939, based on parameters like 40-year-old male, 12-mile commute to work, and specific policy limits.
*And one more Wrangler mention: AutoPacific did a survey of most highly recommended vehicles, and that one gets good word of mouth.
Auto Graphs
*Brad Pitt, mall cop: Siberia is using cutouts of the "Br" part of Brangelina to slow traffic. He's dressed as a traffic cop and is being placed in troublesome intersections. And apparently it's working.
*A car-free Times Square? Good idea.
*Looking for Chevy small-block tech? The Chevy Small-Block V-8 Interchange Manual 2nd Edition is now available from motorbooks.com. Engines from 1968 to 2001 are detailed here, including specs, history, and all the weird/hard-to-find data you bug your buddies-or us-about.
Industry News
*A new mud terrain tire is coming from Nitto. The Trail Grappler M/T will have three-ply sidewalls, be E-load rated/10-ply tread rating, and arrive in mid to late September. It'll be designed for dual and daily drivers and won't replace anything already offered by Nitto. Word is the sizes will be 35x12.50R17, 35x12.50R18, 35x12.50R20, LT305/55R20, and LT295/70R17. Asks Editor Cappa: Really? 18s and 20s? Come on, people, who is buying this crap?
*"We intend to build on Chrysler's culture of innovation and Fiat's complementary technology and expertise to expand Chrysler's product portfolio both in North America and overseas." Those are the words of Sergio Marchionne, the new CEO of Chrysler. He was and is the CEO of Fiat as well.
*The California State Legislature Budget Conference Committee is considering closing more than 200 state parks, including Pismo/Oceano Dunes. You can go to savestateparks.org to help support keeping them open.
*New Web site for the Walter P. Chrysler Museum: wpchryslermuseum.org.
*The National Off-Road Association (nora.usa.com) is functioning as the voice of OHV enthusiasts, and it brought to our attention the fact that Great Lakes Four Wheeler Drive Association worked with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to redesignate more than 45 miles of off-road trails from "ORV trails" to "ORV routes" on Drummond Island, which means all vehicles will be able to utilize them now, including both downsize and fullsize.
*BFGoodrich (working with Tread Lightly! and United Four Wheel Drive Association) named Barnwell Mountain Recreation Area near Gilmer, Texas, one of its 2009 Outstanding Trails, and gave the Texas Motorized Trails Coalition a grant.
*Is GM going to move out of Detroit?